Comments on: Guardian 24608 / Orlando

By: Derek Lazenby

Derek Lazenby — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 11:39:36 +0000

Ta for that, I’ll check it out.

By: Paul B

Paul B — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 01:06:45 +0000

There was a freebie available at the Crossword Centre called Crossword Utility. I have that stashed away somewhere, and very good it is. But as to The Professionals, I think you’ll find that both Bodie and Doyle use Crossword Compiler, while only Cowley uses Tea and Sympathy. I use the lot, but usually send in CC.

By: Derek Lazenby

Derek Lazenby — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 22:36:13 +0000

OK, it’s my bed time. I put that together to illustrate we have different things which we recact to by saying “what! you don’t know that?”.

Gangster gives hoody, roofing material gives lead, higher class gives better, which together sound like Huddie Leadbetter a legendary blues singer. He had the nick name Leadbelly etc…

Too late for scrapping, next time, grin.

If I were committing to more than a one off I would be looking at Crossword Compiler, but I ain’t hence freebies, for now at least. Yeah I know, I set a precedent and then it’s “Derek? Can you do another?”.

By: Ian Stark

Ian Stark — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 21:40:36 +0000

Derek, I do take your point about the dangers of ‘one ambiguity too far’, although I’m not sure that applies in that particular clue(IMHO!). For me, at any rate, the ‘cut short’ was clearly relating to ‘long tooth’.I was working with FAN(G) first but quickly got TUS(K) when I had 3d in the grid.

Go on, I’ll fight ya for it

Still stumped by Belly! BTW, Crossword Compiler offers a discount to people who take less than two (I suppose that’s one or none!) flights per year, in the name of greenness. I personally think it’s a terrific programme, although there is the danger of putting your own brain into Park while the software takes care of your anagrams. I confess to having used those facilities when stumped. I wonder if the professionals do? Crossword Compiler ain’t free but it also ain’t expensive – and it’s excellent.

Thanks Smutchin – I’ll have a crack tomorrow!

By: Derek Lazenby

Derek Lazenby — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 20:04:57 +0000

OK, it’s gone 8pm. The answer to my example in post 13 was Belly.

By: Derek Lazenby

Derek Lazenby — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 19:50:07 +0000

Ian, the ambiguity of by was not the issue. It was the ambiguity caused by “cut by”. Is that one instruction or two? We all know we shouldn’t let ourselves be too literal with these things, but it takes a degree of will power to separate cut from by. If you fail then you reach my original point. It was one ambiguity too many in my view. So Smutchin, use by as you wish, just take care over the preceding word.

See, not a war at all, grin.

BTW, the freebies I’m using for my one off are Crossword Writer and Across Lite. You wouldn’t beleive the nausea in transfering between the two. And it might all be a waste of time if printed and scanned images are unusable, sigh.

By: Jim

Jim — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 19:38:58 +0000

Being in the States, never heard of billy-o, but got it from the cryptic part.
15 minutes, which is close to my best time.

By: smutchin

smutchin — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 18:57:56 +0000

Ian, here you go then: xwd5. Enjoy! I'll have a look at your new ones later too.

By: Ian Stark

Ian Stark — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 17:02:53 +0000

Smutchin, at the risk of starting an all out war, I personally am happy with ‘by’ meaning ‘next to’ but not specifying the position. Sure, it would be more elegant and ‘clever’ if the two parts were in the desired sequence, but I’m not convinced it’s necessary to understand the clue. ‘I am standing by my wife’ just says I am next to her – doesn’t say whether I’m to the left or right, or in front or behind. (although in that context, the answer would probably be behind . . .)

A few more of my efforts posted, by the way. Any more of yours on the horizon? Hope so, they are excellent

By: smutchin

smutchin — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 16:46:30 +0000

The foe/tus vs tus/foe question is interesting to me because of a clue I’ve been tussling with in one of my own puzzles. The clue would read better if I could give the two parts of the charade the “wrong” way round, but I wasn’t sure if that was allowed… I’m none the wiser after today’s comments.